Packaging device and method for the operation thereof

ABSTRACT

Device for packaging goods, in particular a stack of goods with a tubular film having a film-feeding means with a welding and cutting array for producing and feeding a tubular film hood and having a film-fitting means that cooperates with the film-feeding means, can be translated up and down vertically and is designed to grip and fit the film hood over the goods, characterized in that the film-feeding means is disposed so that it is horizontally translatable between an operating position and a maintenance position.

The present invention is directed to a device for packaging goods, in particular a stack of goods, with a tubular film using film-feeding means, a welding and cutting array for producing and feeding a mantle-shaped film cover, and film-fitting means in cooperation with the film-feeding means, said film-fitting means being movable up and down vertically and designed to grab and fit the film cover over the goods. The present invention is further directed to a method for operating such a device.

EP 1 574 433 B1 discloses a method and device for manufacturing and fitting a packaging cover onto a palletized load, wherein the device has means for feeding and winding the tubular film as well as a mechanism for keeping the open end of the tube open. These devices are held at the end of a pivot arm, which can be pivoted between a film-preparing and a packaging position. In addition, devices for welding and cutting the tubular film are provided in the area of the film-preparing position. However, said devices are not movable. EP 1 574 433 B1 lacks a working platform for reaching the feeding and winding device and a mechanism for keeping the open end open.

EP 2 069 206 B1 discloses a generic packaging device in which the film-feeding means is disposed within a frame in which it can be moved vertically. An embodiment of this kind is rather complex in design, as separate vertical guide means and/or mounting means must be provided on the frame in order to allow for the vertical translatability of the film-feeding means.

DE 37 14 811 C2 discloses a device for fitting and heat-shrinking a plastic film, wherein a feeding and cutting means is horizontally translatable from its feeding position to a waiting position while heat is applied to the stack of goods that has just been covered with the film in the shrinking step, in order to prevent the packaging film on top of the stack from being adversely affected by the applied heat. It does not disclose a working platform.

DE 30 11 264 C2 and DE 31 16 194 A1 disclose film-fitting devices having a device frame beside or around which a working platform is disposed.

The object of the present invention is to provide the most simple solution for facilitating maintenance and adjustment work performed on the film-feeding means without substantially modifying the known basic design of a generic packaging device.

The invention achieves this object by arranging the film-feeding means so that it can be translated horizontally between an operating position and a maintenance position.

This solution does not require any guides or mounting means on a vertical frame for translatably guiding the fitting means between a lower end position and an upper end position.

It is useful for the film-feeding means to be translatable along a rectilinear translation path, although a curvilinear or circular translation path would also be conceivable in principle.

When in the maintenance position, it is particularly useful for the film-feeding means to be disposed adjacent or above a horizontal working platform, which may be accessed from the floor via an access staircase. Alternatively, when in the maintenance position, it may be disposed in the area of an opening of a horizontal working platform. The opening may be largely covered by the film-feeding means, allowing the working platform to be accessed without the opening posing a hazard.

It may be useful for the film-feeding means to be situated above a film roll mount when in the waiting position.

The film-feeding means and the film-fitting means may be actuated in coordinated fashion by a joint control, in particular to translate the film-feeding means to its maintenance position only once the film-fitting means has completed a fitting step and to set the film-fitting means in motion only once the film-feeding means has reached its operating position.

It is of no relevance to the invention whether shrink or stretch film material is shaped, while the film-feeding and/or film-fitting means may be designed to process shrink or stretch film material.

The goods to be packaged may be transported under the film-fitting means in feed direction, with the film-feeding means being translatable along the translation path transversely thereto.

The film-feeding means may be translatable via a motor or manually, and it may be lockable in its operating and/or maintenance position.

Furthermore, the film-feeding means may be disposed and horizontally translatable within a rectangular frame, with the frame having an outer frame width transverse to the translation path, a working platform being disposed on the side of the frame situated in the extension of the translation path, and the width of the working platform not exceeding 1.2 times the width of the frame.

It is advantageous for the working platform to have a width equal to or smaller than the outer frame width.

Purposively, the working platform has an access staircase that is disposed within the width of the working platform.

In particular, it is favorable for the working platform to be disposed above a film roll mount.

The object of the present invention is further achieved by a method for operating a device according to the invention, which is characterized in that the film-feeding means is translated into an operating position to package goods and in that the film-feeding means is translated into a maintenance position so that it can be accessed to perform maintenance work.

The invention is explained in further detail on the basis of the following embodiments, with reference being made to a figure in each case.

FIG. 1 is a perspective schematic view of an embodiment according to the state of the art.

FIG. 2 is a perspective schematic view of an embodiment of the invention in the operating position.

FIG. 3 is an embodiment according to FIG. 2 in the maintenance position.

FIG. 1 depicts a known embodiment of a packaging device 2 used to transport goods 4 disposed in stacks 6 on pallets 8 via a roll conveyor 10 in a feed direction 11 to the area of the packaging device 2 as well as to cover and package said goods with a sleeve-like or tubular film hood, which is not depicted in detail, as is know from the prior art. Packaging device 2 has a frame 12 as a hoist frame, which is made out of four vertical supports 14, between which a film-fitting means 16 can be translated up and down. Film-fitting means 16 is square or rectangular and has film tensioning means 18 at each of its four corners, having a conventional film-tensioning drive and arcuately curved tensioning brackets for taking up and dispensing the film. The device of the portrayed embodiment is adapted to process stretch film, but as regards the actual invention, it could be adapted to process tubular film that is to be shrunk by applying heat.

Supports 14 bear on their upper ends a horizontal working platform 26 with a surrounding railing 28 and an access staircase 30 reaching down to the floor.

A film roll holder 32 for receiving a film roll 34 is disposed on the floor below the working platform 26 in order to store tubular film for processing. The tubular film 36 that is to be wound off the film roll 34 is transported via a deflection roller 38 disposed above working platform 26 to a film-feeding means 40, which encompasses a welding and cutting assembly for applying a welding seam to and cutting the film above the stack of goods 6 for or after shaping a film hood.

Film-feeding means 40 is fixed in place above an opening 42 in working platform 26 and can be accessed via access staircase 30 and working platform 26 to perform maintenance work.

FIGS. 2 and 3 depict a packaging device according to the invention, which has a frame 12 (hoist frame) with four supports 14 and a vertically translatable film-fitting means 16 disposed within the frame, as does the known embodiment according to FIG. 1. Horizontal guides 50, along which film-feeding means 40 can be translated horizontally in translation direction 40 a (double arrow) are disposed above the top-most position of film-fitting means 16. The frame has an outer width B in a direction transverse to translation direction 40 a. Horizontal working platform 26 with railing 28 neighboring two supports 14 is mounted above film roll mount 32 and fitted with a ladder or access staircase 52 in order to enable access from the floor. In principle, the height of working platform 26 relative to horizontal guides 50 can be arbitrary within certain limits, with the arrangement being purposively designed in a manner that allows maintenance personnel to perform necessary maintenance work as easily as possible, i.e. normally standing. The working platform is thus purposively disposed in an area of approximately up to 2 meters, approximately 0.5 to 1.5 meters below horizontal guides 50. FIG. 3 depicts the packaging device with the film-feeding means 40 in maintenance position, from which one can see that a maintenance technician 54 standing on working platform 26 can easily access the film-feeding means 40 and do maintenance and repair work. The working platform has an outer width b, in particular including the staircase or ladder 52, which is preferably identical to frame width B, which reduces costs and completes the setup of the device. Width b may be smaller than B, but is purposively not greater than 1.2 times B.

Film-feeding means 40 is preferably translatable transversely to feed direction 11 of the stacks of goods 6, at least in cases in which the packaged stacks of goods move through the device along a rectilinear path. If the arrangement allows for the stacks of goods to exit the device in a direction opposite or transverse to the feed direction, the film-feeding means may be translated in another direction.

The installation height of the packaging machine can be reduced because the working platform is disposed above the film roll mount.

The film-feeding means is translated to the maintenance position, in which it is secured, so that maintenance work can be done and the film can be loaded. The work is done, the securing means is released, and the film-feeding means is returned to its operating position.

Another advantage of the arrangement according to the invention is that the packaging device can be operated from one side, without the need for the translation path of the delivered stacks of goods to be surmounted or crossed. The film-feeding means and the film-fitting means may be supplied as preassembled units including wiring, allowing for final assembly to be shortened and simplified.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

2: packaging device

4: goods

6: stack of goods

8: pallet

10: roll conveyor

11: feeding means

12: frame (hoist frame)

12 a: side (1 of 12)

14: support

16: film-fitting means

18: film-tensioning means

26: working platform

28: railing

30: access staircase

32: film roll mount

34: film roll

36: tubular film

38: deflection roll

40: film-feeding means

40 a: translation direction

42: opening

50: horizontal guide (translation path)

52: ladder

54: maintenance position

b: width (1 of 26)

B: frame width 

1. Device for packaging goods, in particular a stack of goods, with a tubular film, having a film-feeding means with a welding and cutting array for producing and feeding a tubular film hood and having a film-fitting means that cooperates with the film-feeding means, can be translated up and down vertically and is designed to grip and fit the film hood over the goods, characterized in that the film-feeding means is disposed so that it is horizontally translatable between an operating position and a maintenance position.
 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that film-feeding means can be translated along a rectilinear translation path.
 3. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that, when in the maintenance position, film-feeding means is disposed adjacent a horizontal working platform.
 4. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that, when in the maintenance position, film-feeding means is located above a film roll mount.
 5. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that film-feeding means and film-fitting means are actuated by a joint control in coordinated fashion.
 6. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that film-feeding means and/or film-fitting means is or are designed to process shrink or stretch film material.
 7. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the goods that are to be packaged are transported in feed direction beneath film-fitting means, wherein film-feeding means can be translated transversely thereto along translation path.
 8. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the film-feeding means can be translated by a motor or manually and that it can be secured in the operating and/or maintenance position.
 9. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that film-feeding means is disposed and horizontally translatable within rectangular frame, wherein frame has an outer frame width transverse to the translation path, and working platform is disposed on side of frame situated in the extension of translation path, and width of working platform is no more than 1.2 times the width of the frame.
 10. Device according to claim 9, characterized in that working platform has a width, which is either equal to or smaller than outer frame width.
 11. Device according to claim 9, characterized in that working platform has an access staircase, which is disposed within width of working platform.
 12. Device according to claim 9, characterized in that working platform is disposed above a film roll mount.
 13. Method of operating a packaging device according any of the preceding claims, characterized in that film-feeding means is translated into an operating position to package goods and film-feeding means is translated into a maintenance position to allow it to be accessed to perform maintenance work. 